"I bet you missed me! You did, didn't you?" Crowley patted the Bentley.

Aziraphale rolled his eyes as he placed the luggage into the trunk. "Why don't you marry it?" He murmured.

Cassi giggled. "Jealous of a car, papa?"

"Of course not. Why would I be?"

Crowley wiped the Bentley's headlight clean, with his jacket. "A week alone and already gathering dust? Are you cold? Yes, I know this bloody weather is dreadful."

Cassi looked around and noticed people wearing their winter clothing. Aziraphale looked up to the sky, snow coming down and wondered if Crowley was right. "Crowley? If you're done flirting with the car, can we get on?"

"Not flirting." Crowley sniffed and patted the car's roof. "Jealousy doesn't look good on you, angel."

Aziraphale entered the car after Cassi. "I'm not…jealous of a car."

"You'll be alright if dad married the car?" Cassi teased. "Because if you are, you would be the other woman, papa."

Aziraphale looked back. "I'm not jealous of a mechanical thing and if anything, darling, dad will marry me or no one else."

"What a romantic proposal." Crowley raised his brow.

"I'm not pro-...just drive the car, please."

As soon as Crowey started the car, the song Scandal by Queen began to blast at full volume.

Cassi had debated all last week regarding a certain topic. She had gathered enough courage to come clean, at least to one parent. As Crowley was outside tending to his garden, making sure the plants did well while they were away and preparing them for the odd winter weather that was happening, Cassi exhaled and inhaled like a loon, prepping for whatever outcome. "Papa, may I speak with you?"

Aziraphale was left to unpack his and Crowley's belongings. "Of course, my darling, you can come to me anytime. You know that."

Cassi grabbed onto Aziraphale's arm. "You need to promise me you will keep this between us. Please, papa. Angel to angel."

Aziraphale looked out the window, knowing Crowley was out in the garden. "Um, Cassi, dad and I -"

"ElliotwasinNewYorkandImethimonlyonceIdidnottellhimaboutourtripbutthenhekissedmeandIhavethisgnawingfeelinghereinmychestandIdon'tknowifit'sguiltforslappinghimorsomethingelse."

Aziraphale's mouth hung open for a moment. "Elliot was in New York? You did not invite him, and you slapped him…af-after he ki-kissed you and now you are not sure if you feel guilty or something else?"

Cassi nodded enthusiastically, hand on Aziraphale's arm, gripping for dear life. Aziraphale wiggled himself free and closed the window shades. He clapped his hands and blew out a heavy breath. "What you are feeling is love, darling child."

Cassi sat at the edge of the bed and pondered the thought. "Of course I am, I do love Elliot."

"Um, no, Cassi-" he sat next to her and held her hand, "-you..you're experiencing love. As in, you're in love. You love Elliot more than a friend. You asked me how I figured out I loved your dad when, as an angel, I love everything." The angel tipped her chin up with his finger, the other hand still holding hers. "Because that night, after he rescued my books, my heart made this thump and I felt I would discorporate at any second. He was right there next to me in the car, driving us away from the fire, and I missed him. He was sitting next to me, and I missed him. I yearned for him to take off his glasses and look at me. Surely that would have not been a good thing as we would have crashed but…I did not care."

The angel let out a content sigh. "He was bootlegging bottles of wine, practically committed a crime right there in front of me and all I could think about was how handsome he looked in his suit. I called him a friend moments later and I remember, it did not feel right. He wasn't my friend, well, I mean he was but I did not care to say he was my friend. I wanted to scream 'this is the man I love.'" He gently gripped her hand tighter. "When he looked at me, I was embarrassed because it felt as if he was looking right into my soul and when he leaned in and kissed me," he shuttered, "I could not think of anything else but the sound of my heartbeat."

"I didn't see him for a little over five months but during those months, I felt lonely. I was used to being alone in the shop; however, I could actually feel how lonely it was and all I wanted was for Crowley to be right there next to me. I did not care if he was just standing there, or rambling about something or other, I craved his presence." He paused for a moment before continuing. "I know the difference in your eyes when you receive a message from dad, Nina, or Maggie in place of how they light up when you receive a message from him." Aziraphale tucked her hair back. "The stars in your eyes glow brighter."

"I…I don't want to be in love if it makes dad upset."

Aziraphale chuckled. "You leave dad to me, my loving child. He may be a grumpy demon at times but under that persona is the man I fell in love with."

"Ho-how do I know he loves me back?"

"Well, that is a question I cannot answer. Demons don't feel love as we do, even if he is half angel and as dad said, it depends on the kiss. There is always meaning behind it. The last kiss dad and I shared before I left to heaven was not at all like our first one." He exhaled. "He weaponized our feelings towards each other, making the kiss a desperate one, granted out of love but not the gentle love we secretly had for one another."

Cassi shook her head. "I don't know…it happened so fast."

Aziraphale released Cassi and gestured towards heaven. "Fully charged." Her phone appeared in his hand and he handed it back to Cassi. "However, in respecting dad's wishes, I need to advise you to proceed with caution, my darling. I don't ever want to see you dejected and heartbroken." He gently kissed her forehead.

"Angel, where are my large shears? The trees need trimming. Wh-why are…are you ho-holding your phone?"

Aziraphale smiled sweetly at Cassi and walked to his lover. "Because I gave it back to her." He walked out of the room and started his descend down the stairs.

"You can't do that." Crowley followed.

Aziraphale turned and closed the gap between them. He placed one hand on the demon's lean chest as their bodies seemed to curve perfectly with one another. The angel's eyes dilated as he looked up at the demon. "Surely-" he started drawing circles on Crowley's slightly exposed skin and moved his hips forward "-you can let her have her phone back, hmm? She has earned her freedom from being grounded. What do you say?" Aziraphale's tiptoed. "Say it's alright…love." His tone was low near Crowley's ear making the demon shudder as goosebumps began to appear.

"Ca-Cassi, you're on probation!" He yelled up the stairs, thankfully Cassi remained in their room. "Ngk…um, your…you-your father and I are heading to the greenhouse to look for my shears."

Cassi walked across the hall to her room, eyes on her phone, not caring about anything else.

Hey.

Finally stole your phone back

Dad said I am on probation.

Hmm

Probably for the best you don't want to cause too much trouble

Haha.

I'm back home, the cottage.

Ik

Do you have some sort of tracker on me?

I just follow the love ✌️

Cassi's heart paced and she lowered her phone. She plopped herself on her bed, Hex jumping on the bed and immediately making biscuits on her back. "Hex," she groaned, "I thought I would feel relieved knowing this feeling but it's worse."

Hex did nothing but meow and continued his movements.

She groaned louder and buried her face on the bed. "What if I am a bad kisser?" She sat up. "Hex, what if I made a horrible impression? Well, besides the slapping."

Hex meowed once more and resumed his biscuits next to the nephalem.

"I know, I should not have slapped him but he…he should not have confused me like that. You just don't go around snogging people. Hex! What if he never wants to kiss me again and I just lost the opportunity? Oh, my gosh, I can feel when dad and papa are doing you know what, and when people are vibrating love…does that mean…he can feel it on me? Hex, does it?"

The chonky Persian purred and looked up at his owner.

"No, you're right…you're completely correct. I am overthinking too much. Papa only knew I was in love because he is an angel, he can sense these things. Do you think dad knows? Bloody brilliant if he does." She groaned. "I would be grounded until I'm a million years old."

Another meow.

"That's true, Hex. Papa said he would take care of dad. I love dad but his overprotectiveness can be a little too overwhelming," she signed, "although, it is nice to feel loved and know someone wants only the best for you. That's all dad wants."

Her phone chimed and it took her a moment before she glanced at the new message.

Lunch?

Tomorrow

Crowley stood in front of the oven, black warmups, a zipped up black hoodie, no shirt underneath, arms crossed, sleeves rolled up, hair in half a bun, waiting for the last seven minutes to be over. "Dinner will be ready soon." He informed Aziraphale as the angel made his way into the kitchen.

"Smells delicious." Aziraphale kissed the demon's shoulder and began to take out the plates for dinner. "Um, what are you up to tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? Are we doing something?"

"We are." He rummaged through the cupboard. "The other 'we' I'm afraid."

"Oh, angel/angel bonding time. No demons allowed?" He sniffed. "Going to play the harp and do some good?"

Aziraphale's eyes widened in amusement. "Yes, and we are going to gossip all about the naughty demons down below and polish our halos."

Crowley grinned, equally amused. "How very angelic of you."

"Actually, we'll be going to the Weald and Downland Museum."

"Ugh, why on earth?"

"It's nice to reminisce about the past. Pretend we are back in that era."

Crowley scowled at the notion. "Is this your way of informing me you're taking the car?"

"My, my, look at how you are able to read my mind." Aziraphale hummed as he began to take out the cutlery for dinner.

A comfortable silence filled the air which broke by Crowley's thoughts. "Um, did you mean what you said yesterday? You know… when we arrived." Crowley asked as his eyes were still locked on the oven.

"Hmm?"

"You would marry me?"

Aziraphale did not mean to shut the cutlery drawer so harshly, but it wasn't his fault he lost control of his hand. "I'm…I'm sorry?"

The demon turned to his angel. "Er, holy matrimony is the last step of human relationships, in front of you know who and all that…holiness. Granted you and I are not human, but we seem to do live our lives just like them. However, because I am a demon, I would not be able to step inside a church although we both know I will do so for your sake. And on that note, aren't you living in sin…technically, I mean. Mmm, had a child out of wedlock, living with someone out of wedlock, not to mention shagging someone out of wedlock. Is it something you would want…for-for us?"

"Oh, um…are-are…are you as-asking me to ma-marry you?"

Crowley looked up to the heavens. "No. I'm simply mooting an idea with you. Um, but hypothetically speaking…erm, if I were to ask you…would you accept?"

"Hy-hypothetically?"

Crowley nodded and glanced at his angel.

"Um, I-I would think, and I'm going by, uh, human standards, um, don't we have to…um, have to be together a little bit longer before thinking about…about marriage? We've been together for mere months, and um, you…um, I mean…are we going too fast?

Crowley exhaled as the oven dinged. "Hypothetical, Aziraphale."

Aziraphale remained silent as he eyed Crowley. The demon too did not speak as he removed the chicken from the oven and began to slice it. His expression did not falter from normal, but Aziraphale knew his partner was hurt by the demon's posture and clenched jaw. After a while, the tension in the room was palpable. Aziraphale could only place his hand on Crowley's arm, trying to find the right words to comfort the demon. "Crow-"

"Please let Cassi know dinner is ready. I'll set the table."

Aziraphale remained in place for a moment, afterwards, as he walked out the kitchen, he heard Crowley mutter under his breath, "Six thousand years," the demon sighed, "not months."

Cassi had her arm looped around her angelic father's arm as they walked around the open-air museum, the Victorian area to be precise.

"This brings back memories indeed." Aziraphale breath blew in front of him. "You would have loved this century, darling. The romance period in literature was a beautiful thing to experience."

Cassi snuggled close. "The snow adds a nice touch."

"Awe, dad was not interested but I bet seeing all this, he would have loved it." Aziraphale looked up at the snow flurries and continued to walk. "Did your friend mind the meeting place?"

"Um," Cassi blushed, "I'm not quite sure."

"I don't mind at all but next time I pick the place." Elliot stood behind Cassi and Aziraphale. "A museum? Really?"

Aziraphale smiled politely. "I'm afraid it was my idea, however, there is a cafe, bakery, and other places."

Cassi unhooked her arm and placed her hands behind her back, straightening her posture. Meanwhile, Elliot looked towards the ground as the awkwardness in the air took over. "I'll leave you kids be. I saw some interesting exhibits down there."

"The smell," Elliot cleared his throat and looked around, "during the Victorian period was awful. Horse shit everywhere."

"O-Oh, um, so I'm told." Cassi bit her lip, trying to think of something to say. However, her mind sometimes worked that of her demonic father's, which entailed blurring out whatever was at the tip of the tongue. "Why did you kiss me?"

Elliot snapped his head towards his friend. "Wha-what?"

"In New York. Why did you kiss me? There should be a reason."

"A reason?"

Cassi nodded. "Yes, a kiss has to have a reason, meaning behind it."

"Is that…that what you think? A kiss can also be a hollow thing with no meaning behind it."

Cassi lowered her head in embarrassment. "Oh, right."

Elliot patted her head in comfort. "I guess because I missed you? It feels odd not having your love around. It's like a nice warm cocoon."

Cassi blushed. "O-Oh."

"Yea…"

Both stood quietly while those around them chattered away.

Elliot rubbed the back of his neck. "Um, listen, don-don't read too much into it but um, and this is an observation… you really are innocent."

Cassi faced her friend, cheeks the same color as her hair. "Sh-shut up."

Elliot chuckled and leaned closer to her. "It's okay. I'll teach you to be in tune with your demonic side." He lowered himself down to her face and whispered, "Don't slap me."

Cassi's could only hear her heart and nothing else as Elliot gently kissed her cheek.